OLIFANTSFONTEIN, GAUTENG — An industrial safety incident has left 24 workers hospitalized following an ammonia leak at the Festive Chicken facility in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng. Emergency responders rushed to the Olifantsfontein plant on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, after a critical equipment failure released hazardous gas into the workspace.
According to preliminary reports, routine maintenance operations began at the facility, located at 17 Industrial Road, at approximately 6:00 a.m. The incident occurred later in the day at around 4:23 p.m. when a pressure-release valve experienced a technical failure. This malfunction resulted in the accidental release of ammonia, exposing staff on the floor to the toxic gas.
The Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services were immediately alerted via the city’s life-threatening call-taking center. Firefighters from the Olifantsfontein Fire Station were dispatched to initiate emergency intervention and were the first to arrive on the scene. Upon arrival, the crew encountered multiple employees suffering from severe respiratory distress and immediately requested additional medical assistance.
Paramedics provided urgent on-site medical treatment to the affected individuals before organizing their transport. A total of 24 patients were rushed to nearby hospitals for further medical evaluation and care, utilizing both ER24 and Gauteng provincial government ambulances.
Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Services spokesperson Eric Maloka confirmed that the hazardous situation has been successfully contained. He noted that environmental monitoring at the site has been completed and ammonia levels at the facility have since returned to zero.
Authorities are expected to continue monitoring the site as investigations into the valve malfunction proceed.
